I applied for a debit card before I came here coz I always felt that having a debit card when you’re traveling is essential. I also thought that since I’m gonna be spending more often than I would while back home, it would be apt that I tried to win prizes every time I swipe my card. 😉
Speaking of which, RHB is currently running a ‘Spend Small, Win Big’ contest, and the prizes up for grabs are pretty attractive:
- 1 x Nissan Almera 1.5E(A)
- 1 x Honda CBR250R Mugen
- 3 x iPhone 5 (16GB)
- 5 x Mini iPads (16GB)
I’m eyeing the iPhone 5 myself. I just needed to spend the equivalent of RM 30 to qualify for an entry – it’s all done automatically so you don’t even have to fill out any forms! I’ll have plenty of quirky places to do just that on my vacation so I figured it would be nice to bring it to Bangkok! 🙂
Jatujak Market
The place is heavily commercialized now but still fun to go to when you’re in Bangkok. Contrary to popular belief, this is no longer a “cash only” market – you can also use cards. I applied for the RHB Debit Cash-Connect MasterCard and put cash in it so that I can manage my spending.
You know how hard it is to do that on vacations if you have a credit card. I figured it’ll be much safer to bring my RHB debit card instead of lots of cash and use that instead.
I bought a couple of shirts and souvenirs here. There are boutique shops that will even customize attire for you! I spent THB 400 in just one shop (about RM 40) – it’s one of those witty t-shirt places and a bunch of Americans (I presume) were laughing loudly at all the funny words and pictures on the shirt.
Internet access
Our packaged tour got mixed up and we stayed at 3 different hotels over 5 days (!!!). The first one doesn’t have internet access so I bought a 24 hour net access card for THB 600.
That’s around RM 60…
…and the worst part was we shifted hotel right after I bought it. -_-
Oh well, at least that got me a contest entry.
Groceries at 7-Eleven
Now, the 7-Eleven in Bangkok has a lot of interesting stuff. I’ve mentioned it before on one of my posts. I only got the equivalent of RM 10 at the time but on the last trip (we went to 7-Eleven each night) I spent almost THB 500 (RM 50).
I mostly got a lot of these microwave pork burgers to bring back home. 🙂
My check-in luggage got opened by customs – probably due to the suspicious package – so it’s a good thing I had a TSA lock (which allows customs to open your lock with their special key without damaging it).
Gourmet Market @ Siam Paragon
This is an awesome place that first visited 7 years ago. Siam Paragon was a new mall then and the Gourmet Market was newly opened. It’s an import specialty shop.
We bought loads of stuff to bring back. Everything from Hello Kitty rice flavoring (it’s supposed to be sold only in Japan according of the label on the back)…
…to durians!
I also got some awesome Hokkaido milk! The total cost was THB 857.50 – about RM 86.
Mango Sticky Rice Blizzard
You can only get this Blizzard at the Dairy Queen in Bangkok. 🙂
It’s a country-specific specialty that goes for 690 baht (about RM 6.90) for the large version. It has a lot of sticky rice on top of mango ice cream and it tastes really good – a great twist on the street vendor version.
There’s also Mango Bars – only available in Thailand. I figured since we were going to freeze the pork burgers to bring back, we might as well try bringing this back too. The total amount on the bill was around 350 baht (RM 35) – bought an extra couple of sticks of ice cream to bring the total over RM 30.
My RHB debit card also has a 0.5% unlimited cash back in addition to the contest. You just need to apply for the RHB Debit Cash-Connect MasterCard and tell them you’ll be traveling so the card will be activated for overseas spending. The best thing about the contest is that you only need to spend RM 30 and entry is automatic! No more filling in long and bothersome forms while you’re on vacation! 🙂
Gosh! No free wifi at hotels there? We can get that at some coffee shops here even. Tsk! Tsk!
Yeah, the first hotel didn’t even had free Wifi!
…not even at the lobby.
I didn’t know when we had to change hotels (ended up changing 3 different ones) so I paid for a THB 600 (RM 60) 24 hour net access card – non-refundable.
Oh well. 🙂
have yet to visit bangkok! and i heard so muchy about the cheaaaap shopping there! 😀 and yummy local food (not those insects) 😀 😀
Yeah, the shopping isn’t anything to write home about IMHO, but then again I’m a typical guy. 🙂
It’s basically very commercialized now, the good deals are in the past.
Some Thailand brands like NaRaYa are really cheap for the quality though.
wow. So convenient and Bangkok! I miss going to Bangkok!
Yup, it’s always convenient to use a debit card since it’s money you already have. 🙂
Bangkok is fun, haven’t been there in a while but I’m going to Phuket again soon.
so many interesting foods to try! and wow, rm60 for 24-hr internet access is super duper exp, that’s like nearly 1 month internet access in malaysia LOL
Indeed! The internet in the first hotel was sooo expensive. 😡
It’s like a 5-star hotel price for internet, although most offer them free now.
Yup, you must try the interesting food that’s available in Thailand only when you’re there! 😀
How’s the Pork Burger compared to Samurai Burger? Have you tried the Yakult from the 7-11?
I had the Samurai Burger, that’s a funny story in itself coz of the service we got at McDonald’s in Thailand. 🙂
I still think the 7-Eleven ones are better though, still have some in my freezer!
I think the Samurai Burger would be better if they had a double patty.
Yup, had the Yakult, and it’s also real good! Cheers mate!
Those highways in your first photo? I was admiring it from the top of one of the towers at night. It looks beautiful when lit up in the middle of the night! I miss bangkok! 🙁
Nice! That must have been quite a view! 🙂
Yup, it looks beautiful at night even from the hotel room.
I think Bangkok is a tad commercialized now (not that it has never been) – gone are the good ol days of 3K (one of which is Kao Sang Road in Bangkok).
I love the gourmet market
The food there is awesome
I totally agree – Gourmet Market is an awesome place! 🙂
It’s an import specialty place, much like Ben’s Independent Grocer in Publika.
This post is a good eye opener to me today! It never crossed my mind that we could use Debit Cards overseas!! I will tell my wife who always uses Debit Cards rather than credit cards here.
I thought Thai Durians tasted too bland and flat compared to Malaysian ones. Well, one man’s meat is…..
I might visit Bangkok next month!
Yup, you just need to tell the bank you’re travelling overseas! 🙂
You can use a debit card like a credit card despite the “Electronic Use Only” label – I’ve swiped different ones here and overseas.
I agree, but Thai durians are the source and there’s a really expensive strain that costs THB 900 (RM 90!!) per kg.
Have fun in Bangkok!
I burnt my AA tix to Bangkok last year 🙁
will give this card a try when i go travel overseas. thanks for sharing wor 🙂
It’s a useful card to have – debit cards are great for travelling so you don’t overspend.
This one is good coz of the contest entries – you get a chance to win each time you swipe and there’s a 0.5% cash back too! 😀
so lucky to be going on a shopping spree. I also want to shop in bangkok!!!
I didn’t go shopping much. 🙂
We mostly went and did our own thing, not into shopping, it’s too commercialized nowadays, while back in the days it was still good.
It’s been a while since I’ve been to Bangkok and it was good to be back and see how the different places have changed (or not).
Never been to this country yet…..lot of food to eat.
Yup, and I’m back in Thailand! 🙂
…this time in Phuket.
Loving my RHB Debit Cash-Connect MasterCard too! Its so much better for shopaholics like me too:D
Indeed! 🙂
I still have it, brought it along and I’m back in Thailand – this time in Phuket instead of Bangkok, just two weeks after I came back from the latter.
It’s useful to do resort/hotel check-ins too!